Minnesota Vikings left tackle Christian Darrisaw will undergo season-ending surgery to fix torn ligaments in his left knee, a tough blow for a team that was unbeaten just a week ago but has faced several challenges since then.
Coach Kevin O’Connell confirmed on Friday that Darrisaw tore his ACL and MCL during the loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night.
Darrisaw has been placed on injured reserve, which opens a spot on the active roster for tight end T.J. Hockenson, who had been on the physically-unable-to-perform list while recovering from ACL and MCL tears he suffered in the third-to-last game of last season.
In the final moments of the first half of Minnesota’s 30-20 defeat, Darrisaw was blocking outside linebacker Jared Verse during a running play when safety Jaylen McCollough lost his balance while trying to make a tackle and accidentally rolled into the back of Darrisaw’s leg.
“He’d really developed into one of our core leaders, clearly one of our offensive pillars that we have leaned on a lot,” O’Connell said. “It’s going to be a significant loss, but we’ve all got to do a little more, and it starts with me.”
Darrisaw limped off the field with help from the medical staff and left SoFi Stadium on crutches. He was replaced for the rest of the game by veteran David Quessenberry, but the Vikings may need to find another tackle since rookie Walter Rouse is the only other one on the active roster behind strong right tackle Brian O’Neill. Rouse was a sixth-round draft pick from Oklahoma.
O’Connell mentioned that Rouse would be considered for the new lineup, and guard Dalton Risner is expected to return soon from a back injury that has kept him out since training camp. Current starting left guard Blake Brandel had started three games at left tackle in 2022 when Darrisaw was unavailable.
Darrisaw, a first-round draft pick in 2021 from Virginia Tech, has developed into one of the top players at his position in the NFL.
He is strong enough to protect against some of the best edge defenders without needing double-team help and is also effective in run blocking. The 6-foot-5, 315-pound Darrisaw signed a four-year contract extension at the start of training camp worth over $100 million.
So far, Darrisaw has not completed a full season as a professional. He missed time early in his rookie year while recovering from groin surgery was sidelined for three games in 2022 due to a concussion, and played a career-high 15 games last season.
The Vikings (5-2) were the last unbeaten team in the NFC before losing 31-29 to the Detroit Lions at home on Sunday and then to the Rams on Thursday. They are set to host the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 3.
Hockenson’s injury last year happened exactly two months later than Darrisaw’s this year, which means Darrisaw has a better chance of being ready for the start of the 2025 season.
“I know C.D. will be right back where he was this year, which is one of the best-left tackles in football,” O’Connell said. “I love everything about the progression of his career right up until this moment.”
